Brand-spankin' new and totally CONFUSED!

[Debbo]

Hi Everyone!
I'm so glad I found this message board and am just praying that someone here can help me.
I was just diagnosed with asthma last Friday when I took a pulmonary function test and declined by 23% when "introduced" to methacholine. I was totally shocked because I didn't think my symptoms were typical of asthma. What I feel is a pretty regular need to take a deep breath. I also feel a tightening feeling in my throat, which I am assuming is my windpipe.
Anyway, my doc prescribed Advair twice a day and Albuterol as needed. So I went about my merry way and had the prescriptions filled. I purposely did not read the inserts because I knew I would find something that would freak me out. Well, after 4 days of taking the Advair, I decided to do a little "research" and the info I found on Advair more than freaked me out so I called my doc to prescribe something else. Here is where I become confused. He went from prescribing something potent like Advair to suggesting I use albuterol on an "as-needed" basis. Why did he change his mind so quickly?
I don't know why, but I am just not convinced that my two symptoms spell asthma. Does anyone know if PFTs can be inaccurate? And does anyone else have asthma that can relate to the two symptoms I have? I just feel like I have more of an issue with my windpipe than with my lungs. Would that still be considered asthma? Sorry for all the "clueless me" questions but I am in such a quandry about what to do. ANY advice at all would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks everyone.
Debbie

[dazedandconfused10]

Wow reading your post, part of it sounded like me, I just hava pft on friday with the methacholine challenge and they said it was clearly asthma. I have yet to speak to the dr about meds but I think there is a thread below about advair. My big symptoms are a chroinc cought that gets totally out of control when I'm sick and some sob which I thought was needing exercise. I'm very hesitant to take anything every day for the rest of my life. It sounds like from the other thread there are concerns about advair.

[Quakes99]

Hello. Your doctor should be aware of the problems with Advair. If he continued to tell you to take it, you should be fine. Watch for side effects that are negative, then call him if problems arise. I'm on Advair, Singular, and Albuterol. I have sesonal asthma, so I take it as i need it. I have been asthmatic for a little over a year now. I have not had any problems with Advair, and my doctor takes Advair as well.

As for your questions. It sounds like you need to take them until your signs clear up. It sounds like your doctor was changing his mind based on your concerns (you probably searched and came up with many things because it has just recently been given the black label). If you want, go for a second opinion. However, Advair will help open up your airways. It doesn't immediately help you, Albuterol will. The tightness or closing in your windpipe is the tighting that can be associated with asthma. It sounds your doctor is treating your symptoms. Albuterol is for emergency relief, when you feel tight or you can't breathe, you feel almost paniced. So when you feel your tightness you should take the Albuterol. (Two puffs every 4-6 hours- i'm guessing!) So I would take it for the first 2 days every 4-6 hours. As for the Advair, I would take it for the 2 weeks that is perscribed for it, chances are you will feel better and never need either again! Just be aware of possible negitive side effects, you should be fine!

Feel free to ask if you have other questions or you are not sure of what i said! Sometimes its hard to explain because I experiance it and natually know what to do!

Hope you feel better!

[Cat_0587]

Originally Posted by Debbo

Does anyone know if PFTs can be inaccurate?

PFT's are generally very accurate assuming that the patient is putting in all the required effort (they are very effort dependent tests) and that the person interpreting them is experienced and knows what to look for. Your methacholine test results suggests that you airways are over-responsive which is suggestive of asthma.

Good Luck,

Cat

[Titchou]

Yes, you symptoms sound like asthma. And since you "passed" the tect, so to speak, you do have it. You can find a thread on here about Advair being taken off the market and there's a lot of info there. I asked my doctor about this and the information is somewhat skewed, according to him. He's an internationally known immunologist so I believe him over what I read out there. He said the preponderance of adverse reactions were found to be in AFrican Americans. When they eliminated them from the results of the studies, the incidence of side effects with Advair was the same as with Flovent, etc. The problem is that something in the Advair does not bind properly in African Americans. So if you are other than African American, I'd keep taking it.